Harry Potter sighed and tried to concentrate on the transfiguration
homework in front of him. He was just starting his sixth year, and he had
to do well this year. He had to be ready to face Voldemort. He shook those
thoughts aside, trying to think of anything but that. So much pressure was
on him now. He was putting more pressure than everyone else combined. He
would not be helpless again. He would not let anyone else die because of
him. A tear dripped down his face as his thoughts turned to Sirius. Sirius
should not have died. It was all his fault. He was the one who had not done
his oculamancy training. He was the one who had believed Voldemort's lie
and had gone to try and save Sirius. He was the reason Sirius had gone to
the Department of Mysteries. It was all his fault.
Harry quickly stood up, grabbed his invisibility cloak and broom, and flew out the window. He didn't know where he was headed, he just wanted to get away from it all. He landed by the lake, sat down, and began to sob. He felt so alone, so guilty, so pressured. He almost considered drowning himself, but he could not leave his responsibilities. He felt so trapped. He had nothing to do, no where to turn. He did not want to burden Ron and Hermione with his troubles. They would not understand. No one could. He could no longer trust Dumbledore. He had always thought of Dumbledore as invincible. Now Harry knew that he was not. He could not rely on him. He could not rely on anyone. Lupin was grieving as well. He had tried comforting Harry over the summer, but they had both only increased each other's grief. Harry was all alone.
He froze as he heard someone walking toward him. A familiar voice called his name, looking around for him. It was Hermione. He sighed and pulled off the cloak.
"What are you doing." He asked.
"Looking for you," She replied, "You have seemed so distant lately. I thought you might need someone."
He smiled at her and sighed. "I just want to be alone for a little while."
"Oh no you don't Harry Potter. You are going to sit down and tell me what is going on."
He looked at her, and it all came spilling out. What had happened at the end of last year, his summer, and all the feelings he had. As he sobbed, she held him, rocking back and forth. Then she spoke to him, telling him exactly what he needed to hear. Finally, his sobs subsided.
"Hermione, how do you always know exactly what to say?" He asked.
"Because I know you, Harry," She smiled.
"What would I do without you, Hermione?" He asked.
"You never will have to, if I have anything to say about it. I will always be here for you." She replied.
"Why do you stay with me?"
"Because I love you, and that is what friends are for."
"I love you too. I need you so badly, Hermione Granger." They both looked at each other and smiled. They slowly leaned in, and their lips met, softly. Then they deepened the kiss, enjoying the taste of each other. When they broke away, they knew nothing would be the same again. The continued to talk and kiss. When they looked up, they realized that it was dawn. They quickly slipped back towards the school together.
As they got to the school, Harry leaned over and whispered, "Hermione, will you be my girlfriend."
"Of course I will Harry. Did you think I wouldn't? I said I love you." They smiled and headed inside. Harry smiled contentedly. As long as he had Hermione, he had hope. No matter what the future brought, she would be there.
Harry quickly stood up, grabbed his invisibility cloak and broom, and flew out the window. He didn't know where he was headed, he just wanted to get away from it all. He landed by the lake, sat down, and began to sob. He felt so alone, so guilty, so pressured. He almost considered drowning himself, but he could not leave his responsibilities. He felt so trapped. He had nothing to do, no where to turn. He did not want to burden Ron and Hermione with his troubles. They would not understand. No one could. He could no longer trust Dumbledore. He had always thought of Dumbledore as invincible. Now Harry knew that he was not. He could not rely on him. He could not rely on anyone. Lupin was grieving as well. He had tried comforting Harry over the summer, but they had both only increased each other's grief. Harry was all alone.
He froze as he heard someone walking toward him. A familiar voice called his name, looking around for him. It was Hermione. He sighed and pulled off the cloak.
"What are you doing." He asked.
"Looking for you," She replied, "You have seemed so distant lately. I thought you might need someone."
He smiled at her and sighed. "I just want to be alone for a little while."
"Oh no you don't Harry Potter. You are going to sit down and tell me what is going on."
He looked at her, and it all came spilling out. What had happened at the end of last year, his summer, and all the feelings he had. As he sobbed, she held him, rocking back and forth. Then she spoke to him, telling him exactly what he needed to hear. Finally, his sobs subsided.
"Hermione, how do you always know exactly what to say?" He asked.
"Because I know you, Harry," She smiled.
"What would I do without you, Hermione?" He asked.
"You never will have to, if I have anything to say about it. I will always be here for you." She replied.
"Why do you stay with me?"
"Because I love you, and that is what friends are for."
"I love you too. I need you so badly, Hermione Granger." They both looked at each other and smiled. They slowly leaned in, and their lips met, softly. Then they deepened the kiss, enjoying the taste of each other. When they broke away, they knew nothing would be the same again. The continued to talk and kiss. When they looked up, they realized that it was dawn. They quickly slipped back towards the school together.
As they got to the school, Harry leaned over and whispered, "Hermione, will you be my girlfriend."
"Of course I will Harry. Did you think I wouldn't? I said I love you." They smiled and headed inside. Harry smiled contentedly. As long as he had Hermione, he had hope. No matter what the future brought, she would be there.